Cabinet-table.



S. T. WHITAKER.

CABINET TABLE.

APPLICATION IILBD JUNE 28, 1911.

1,051,793. Patented Jan.28, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Mama/m az/m 6 IN Ivrney INVENTOR S. T. WHITAKER.

CABINET TABLE.

APPLICATION TILED JUNE 28, 1911.

Patented Jan. 28, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHBBT 2.

[NV NTOR WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL T. WHITAKER, OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-THIRD T0 THOMAS W. BATES AND ONE-THIRD TO EDWARD B. REED, BOTH OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA.

CABINET-TABLE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SAMUEL T. \Vrnr- AKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Muscogee and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cabinet- Tables; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in tables and particularly to what might be termed convertible tables adapted for a plurality of uses, including the ordinary use to which a table is put, use as a library bookcase, as a cupboard, or a desk and oiiice table or other like device.

An object of the invention is the arrangement in a table of a slidingly removable top adapted to be positioned either against the end, or as a continuation of the top, and auxiliary leaves adapted to form a top, the same being associated with means for directing them in an operative position.

Another object of the invention is the arrangement in a table of means for readily increasing and decreasing the upper surface of the table in combination with means serving as a shelving structure adapted to be used as a bookcase, or the like.

With these and other objects in view, the invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed. 1

In the accompanying drawing :-Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention in an assembled posit-ion, certain parts being broken away. Fig. 2 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 1, but disclosing the invention in an extended condition. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through Fig. 1, approximately on line 3, 3. Fig. 4C is a section through Fig. 1, approximately on line 4, 4:- Fig. 5 is a detail fragmentary sectional view, approximately on a line 5, 5, of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but disclosing a slightly modified form of the invention.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 28, 1911.

Patented Jan. 28, 1913.

Serial No. 635,823.

Fig. 7 is a detailed perspective view of a fragment of parts illustrating one of the movable leaves with the guiding groove for its pins, the elements being spaced for facility of illustration.

In constructing a device embodying the invention, the body may be formed with shelving for acting as a cupboard, bookshelf, or the like. Arranged in the body are a plurality of openings or ways for accommodating a pair of leaves or members for forming an auxiliary top when raised to the upper part of the housing and extended to a horizontal position on the housing. Primarily, however, a top is provided for the housing which may be used when it is not desired to use the auxiliary top. The primary or original top may be easily moved and positioned on the ends of the housing,

or may be caused to extend as shelving or as trays from the ends, and substantially on the level of the top.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, an embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing in which- 1 indicates the body formed of any desired height, and, of course of any desired material. Arranged in housing 1 are a plurality of shelving 2 and 3 on the opposite sides of the housing 1. These shelves are provided with back members a and 5 which are disposed with a space 6 therebetween, which serves as a pocket for the auxiliary top formed of leaves 7 and 8. Top pieces 9 and 10 of housing 1 may be arranged either flush with the upper edges of leaves 7 and 8, when the leaves are in their lowered position, or disposed slightly below the same as desired. Preferably the top pieces 9 and 10 are arranged slightly below the upper edges of the leaves 7 and 8 in order that the upper edge portions of such leaves may form a guide way for the covers or lids'l2 and 13, which constitute what may be called a priinary top, that is a top for general use when the leaves 7 and 8 are not disposed for constituting a table. These lids 12 and 13 are each provided with a depending flange 14 about its edges, which enables the respective lid to be employed as a tray when the lid is in an inverted and outstanding position as indicated at the right hand end of housing 1 in Fig. 2. A cut away portion 15 is formed in the inner end section of flange 14 of each of lids 12 and. 13 for accommodating the upper edge portions of leaves 7 and 8, when the lids are resting on the top of the housing 1, whereby the projecting edge portions of leaves 7 and 8 serve as a guide for the lids 12 and 13 in their horizontally sliding movements. Rigidly fixed at their ends to the end sections of flanges 14 of each of the lids 12 and 13.are parallel rods 16 and 17, which extend longitudinally of the housing 1, and which are accommodated in their reciprocal move ments by slots or notches 18 and 19 formed in the upper edge portions of the end pieces I of housing 1.

20 and 21 of the housing 1. The said notches enable the rods to move bodily to and from a position over the housing 1 when the respective lids are swung pivotally. Connected with and spaced from the ends 20 and 21 of housing 1 are pivot rods or pintles 22, one at each end of the housing, for the respective lids 12 and 13.. Each pintle 22 is preferably sustained by eyes 22 fixed to and outstanding from the respective end of the housing 1. A hinged leaf 23 engages each of the pintles 22 and is adapted to swing freely, and each leaf 23 is formed with apertures 24 and 25, through which extend the rods 16 and 17 of the respective lids l2 and 13. Thus the rods 16 and 17 are free to slide longitudinally through the respective hinge leaf 23, and at the same time have a hinge connection to the respective end The apertures 24 and 25, of course, register with the lower end portions of notches 18 and 19, so as to permit the rods 16 and 17 to extend through the notches when disposed horizontally over the top of the housing 1, this position being assumed when the lids 12 and 13 are in their closed position as shown in Fig. 1. This hinge connection of lids 12 and 13 enables the lids to be swung pivotally from their horizontal position 011 top of the housing 1 to a vertical position, and when in such vertical position, owing to the outstanding of the pintles 22, the lids will be outside of or beyond the ends of the housing, and may be allowed to slide vertically downwardly with the rods 16 and 17 traveling longitudinally through the apertures 25 and 24. lVhen so lowered, each lid takes a position such as indicated at the left hand end of Fig. 2. When desired, however, either lid may be transformed into a tray by merely continuing the pivotal movement after the lid has reached the vertical position, and until the lid is swung over into the horizontal position indicated at the right hand end of Fig. 2. In this movement, the lid is necessarily inverted, so that the flange 14 serves as a retaining border to constitute a tray of the lid. That which was the outer end of the tray becomes the inner end of the tray, and rests against the end of the housing 1, and in sustaining the weight of the outstanding portions of the lid places the eyes 22 under tension.

The inner faces of the end walls of the housing 1 within the pocket 6 are formed with vertical, parallel grooves 26 and 27 terminating at their lower ends adjacent the base of the housing 1, and at their upper end terminating short of the edge of the respective end of the housing and opening into lateral or right angle slots 34 and 35, the

latter slots being disposed horizontally and each extending inwardly, that is, toward the other. Adjacent the juncture of each of the slots 26 and 27 with its respective slot 34 or 35, the slots 26 and 27 are formed with groove enlargements 30 and 31 conforming substantially in contour to the line of move ment of pins 32 and 33 which outstand endwise, that is longitudinally, from the opposite ends of the leaves 7 and 8 adjacent their inner or lower edges. Obviously, a single pin 32, 33, may be provided at each end of the respective leaf 7, 8, but preferably the ends are arranged in pairs spaced apart for giving a better guiding purchase on the grooves and the pins serve as retaining and guiding members for the leaves.

In operation, when the lids 12 and 13 have been disposed of as by being either lowered in the position seen at the left hand end of Fig. 2, or swung out as trays, as indicated at the right hand end of Fig. 2, the leaves 7 and 8 may be withdrawn from the pocket 6 by grasping the upper edges of the leaves and pulling them vertically until pins 32, arrive at the enlargements 30, 31, of grooves 26, 27, when the leaves will be swung pivotally downwardly in opposite directions until they arrive in a horizontal position. As soon as they are in this latter position they will rest on the top of the housing 1, but the inner edges of the leaves will be spaced apart. The leaves are then forced edgewise horizontally together to the position indicated in Fig. 2, the pins 32, 33,

traveling in the short horizontal slots 34, 34, forpermitting this movement. Thus, the pins are given a position where they will prevent downward movement of the inner or the outer edge portions of the leaves, the inner edge portions being clirectly supported by the pins on the material constituting the lower walls of grooves 34 and 35. The outer edge portions of the leaves will be prevented from being moved downwardly by the engagement of the pins with the material constituting the upper walls of grooves 34 and 35, the material of the housing serving as a fulcrumwhen I pressure is exerted downwardly on the outer edges of leaves 7 and 8.

It is desirable to have the upper surface of leaves 7 and 8 disposed flush with the upper edge of the end portions of the housing, and this may be obtained either by having the leaves of a thickness, as seen in leaf 8 in Fig. 4, suflicient to equal the length of the end portion extending above the top plate 9, or the leaf may be thickened merely at its inner portion as indicated at 28 on leaf 26 which serves the same purpose.

Obviously, the grooves described may be produced in any Well known manner, either by auxiliary attachments or plates fixed to the end portions of the housing, or by having portions of the material cut away. The mechanical structure is the same in either event.

The side and end edge portions of lids 12 and 13 are given as much overhang as desirable, and may be varied according to the style and finish preferred.

Curtains 36 and 87 are preferably provided for covering the shelving 2, and are sustained by rods 38 and 39 connected to the housing in any well known and suitable manner.

In Fig. 6, I have illustrated a slightly modified embodiment, the modification consisting essentially in the omission of the shelving. The structure is provided with the usual base 40 having upright side members 41 and 4-2, and suitable end pieces forming a central opening divided by a central partition 43 which produces pockets 44 and 4:5. The end walls of these pockets are grooved as at 46, 47, for accommodating pins 32, 33, of leaves 7 and 8', the construction and arrangement of the grooves, leaves and pins being substantially identical with that just above described. The grooves 46 and 47 terminate in horizontal grooves 48 and 19, after the manner of the structure above set forth. In this construction the lids and their cooperating parts have been omitted, but may be utilized if preferred.

What I claim is 1. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a support having a vertical wall, of a leaf hinged thereto and spaced outwardly from the vertical wall and having spaced apertures, a lid for the support having a pendant flange, and parallel rods having their ends fixed in the flange, said rods extending through the respective openings in the leaf and adapted to slide therethrough for effecting a sliding and hinged connection of the leaf with the support adapted to allow the leaf to be inverted and outstand from and rest against the vertical wall of the support.

2. In a structure of the class described, a

support, a hinge leaf pivotally connected to the support in position for swinging from a vertical position above its pivot to a vertical position below its pivot, said leaf being formed with an aperture, a lid for the support having a pendant flange, and a rod slidingly extending through the aperture, and having its ends fixed to the flange of the lid.

3. In a table, the combination of a housing formed with a pocket having vertically grooved walls, a lid having a pivotally sliding connection with the housing and adapted to be disposed at times above the housing and at times at one side of the housing, and a leaf removably disposed in the pocket and adapted to be removed therefrom, and having guiding pins extending into said grooves adapted to guide the leaf in its movements, and to permit the leaf when moved vertically out of the pocket to swing from a vertical to a horizontal position on top of the housing.

4. In a table, the combination of a housing formed with a pocket having side and end walls, the end walls being grooved vertically, and the grooves terminating short of the upper ends of the end walls, a leaf adapted to be removably disposed in said pocket, and pins extending from the ends of the leaf into the grooves, the end walls of the pocket being also formed with horizontal grooves to receive the pins of the leaf when the leaf is disposed horizontally communicating with the upper ends of the vertical grooves.

5. In a table, the combination of a housing formed with a pocket, leaves removably disposed in the pocket and having sliding connections with the walls of the pocket, the leaves being adapted to have their upper edge portions upstanding beyond the upper surface of the housing when the leaves arein the pocket, and a lid for the housing having a pivotal sliding connection with the housing and formed with a cutaway portion adapted to accommodate the upstanding edge portions of the leaves for serving as a guide for the lid in its sliding movement.

6. In a table, the combination with a housing formed with a pocket, each of the end walls of the pocket being formed with a vertical groove terminating short of the upper ends of the respective end walls, and being formed with a horizontal groove communicating with the upper end of the vertical groove, and also being formed with a groove enlargement adjacent the juncture of the two grooves, and a leaf adapted to extend vertically into the pocket and to be moved therefrom to a position horizontally above the housing, said leaf being formed with pairs of spaced pins projecting from the leaf into the respective grooves.

7. In a structure of the class described, a In testimony whereof I affix my signature support, a hinge leaf pivotally connected to in presence of two witnesses.

the support in osition for swinging from a vertical positior i above its pivot to a vertical SAMUEL WHITAKER position below its pivot and a lid for the Witnesses:

support having a sliding connection with C. H. FEsLER,

the hinge leaf. G120. B. Prr'rs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents,

Washington, D. C. 

